One IXL Elementary student is proving that even young voices can spark big change.
Fifth grader Giselle Martinez returned from winter break with a mission: to make recycling a regular part of life at her school. Motivated by concerns about pollution and the impact of waste on the environment, Giselle approached her teacher, Baylee Pappan, with a proposal to start a recycling program at IXL.
Instead of jumping in right away, Pappan encouraged Giselle to do her homework. She spent months researching the topic, writing an essay, and creating a presentation to share with IXL Principal Kali Vickery. Her work laid the foundation for what would become a schoolwide Earth Day initiative.
“Recycling is important because it reduces the amount of plastic sent to landfills,” Giselle said. “It is also very important to keep our planet that we live on clean.”
Inspired by Giselle’s passion and determination, the school launched a recycling challenge in the weeks leading up to Earth Day. Students from Pre-K through fifth grade learned how to properly clean, sort, and recycle different types of materials. Over just eight school days, students collected 2,471 recyclable items. The second-grade class led the way with 526 items. Continue story below ad.
At the end of each week, Pappan’s fifth graders tallied the results and sorted the recyclables by category. The initiative became more than just a fun activity, it was a hands-on learning experience with a lasting impact.
“Students at IXL have been incredibly happy to know they are making a difference in our local environment by allowing their items to be recycled instead of thrown into a landfill or our waterways and parks,” Pappan said. “Our hope is that our students take what they’ve learned and continue these efforts at home.”
The school plans to explore the possibility of launching a year-round recycling program to build on the momentum started by Giselle’s efforts.
Above photo: Ms. Baylee Pappan’s fifth-grade class at IXL Elementary proudly poses with bags of recyclables collected during the school’s Earth Day challenge. In just eight school days, IXL students gathered 2,471 recyclable items.
IXL 5th Grader Giselle Martinez poses with her Earth Day Hero certificate. After months of research and planning, Giselle Martinez helped launch a schoolwide recycling challenge that taught her fellow students the importance of reducing waste and protecting the environment.
